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What every teenager should know about money

Jonathan Self lists the 10 most important things older and wiser heads should tell younger people about money.

12/08/2016

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what every teenager should know about money

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Understanding money means freedom

Understanding money means freedom

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1. Understanding money means freedom

The only boring thing about money is not having enough of it. By taking the time to understand how it works you are, effectively, guaranteeing yourself a better life.

By the time we reach our teens, we usually have fixed, non-negotiable money beliefs such as: money can make you happy, money is complicated, money is boring, money isn’t a polite subject for conversation or money doesn’t matter.

We are also likely to have developed a particular pattern of behaviour with regard to money. One person, for instance, might be miserly and the next a spendthrift.

By comprehending – and challenging – these beliefs and behaviour patterns, we can develop a better relationship with money.

2. The three basic rules of sound money management are simple

The average British couple will receive over £2 million during their lives – plenty of money to buy a house, raise a family and enjoy a reasonable standard of living – but not enough to waste.

Which is why avoiding waste is the first rule of sound money management.

The second and third rules are: save for the future and don’t borrow a penny more than you have to.

6. ‘Budgeting’ is not a dirty word

Budgeting has nothing to do with self-denial but is simply about making a plan for how you will spend your money over a specific period. Part of budgeting is making the most of your money.

After years of nagging, I finally got my own children to turn off the lights when they left a room, and to switch off appliances not in use, by offering to split any savings made on the next electricity bill.

8. Make sure you can work out a percentage

No one should be allowed to leave school without being able to calculate a percentage. It is key to comparative shopping, whether for financial products or anything else.

9. Not looking after your money carries a heavy cost

Financial ignorance leads to poor financial decision-making.

It means being burdened with unnecessary debt, having to work harder and longer, lost opportunities and frequently – for those in relationships – heated arguments. It really pays to look after your money.

10. Saving regularly will make you rich

Why is it so important to develop a saving habit? When you borrow money, you pay a double price: the cost of the loan plus the cost of not being able to earn interest investing the same money elsewhere.

Saving even a small amount can quickly add up. Start tucking away £1 a day on your 18th birthday and it could be worth as much as £118,025 by the time you are 60.

'The Teenager's Guide to Money' by Jonathan Self is available on Amazon for £8.99 - a small price to pay to install the value of money in your children and grandchildren!

The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by Saga unless specifically stated.

The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, medical or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.